Our Meet and Greet Volunteers are based in the Main Entrance and Outpatients Department of University Hospital Coventry where they welcome patients and visitors, help people navigate their way around the hospital and reassure and support them.

The Friends of the Hospital of St Cross are operating a Meet and Greet service at the entrances at the Hospital of St Cross and the Friends Blood Taking Unit.

Our Volunteer Drivers provide a professional and dedicated transportation service in their own vehicle taking patients to University Hospital Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby. Patients are generally mobile and require escorting between the vehicle and the clinic or home address. Volunteer Drivers are also required to deliver equipment and medication to patients’ homes.

Please note: A four door vehicle is required for transporting patients. Volunteer Drivers are re-imbursed 45p per mile.

Based on wards at University Hospital Coventry Clinical Support Volunteers support staff in the delivery of patient care. Duties include providing nutrition and hydration support, befriending patients, supporting patient discharge from the ward, stock replenishment and admin tasks.

Please note: Shifts are 8am - 2pm and 2pm - 8pm.

Under supervision and according to Standard Operative Procedures our Pathology Volunteers perform a range of support duties within the laboratory; predominantly supporting Biomedical Scientist staff within the team to facilitate optimal patient care.

Duties include sorting and inputting of patient requests, decontamination of samples, deactivation of samples, DNA extraction from samples and PCR amplification.

Please note: Volunteer suitability for this role is assessed by our Pathology Department. Volunteers are required to submit additional information for this role, including any relevant experience they have.

Our Administration Volunteers support central administration functions and departments across the Trust.

Duties include data inputting, responding to enquiries in a polite manner, answering the phone, filing, photocopying and other general administration tasks.

Our Compassionate Communities Volunteers work to help support people whose loved one is close to the end of their life, or has died.

Through simple companionship, and with the support of the hospital Chaplains, these volunteers can bring immense comfort and ease loneliness in one of the most challenging seasons in life.

In the time of COVID-19 we’re now trying to move parts of our support online or over the phone, and we are especially looking for volunteers who would feel comfortable working in this way with us.

What about COVID-19?

We want to reassure you that our hospitals are safe environments. We are working hard to protect patients, staff and our volunteers. The Trust has robust policies and processes in place for deploying volunteers safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes supplying PPE, exercising high levels of hand hygiene and social distancing and providing appropriate training. All volunteers will have a personal risk assessment completed as part of the recruitment process to ensure that you are deployed safely. You will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns you have around COVID-19 during the application process.

Entry Criteria

If you are considering applying to become a volunteer, please ensure you meet our entry requirements before submitting an application:

• You must be 16 years of age or older
• You must have the right to work in the UK

What is the commitment required to be a volunteer at UHCW NHS Trust?

Regular commitment from our volunteers is extremely important to us. We are incredibly grateful to all the volunteers who give up their time. We require volunteers to commit to a volunteering shift of 2-3 hours a week, unless we specifically state otherwise.

Will I need to have a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check to volunteer?

Yes, we complete DBS checks for all of our volunteers. The checks are free and completed online. We will take you through the process and will provide you with more information after you have expressed an interest in volunteering.

How long will it take from submitting my application to starting volunteering?

We aim to process applications within two weeks. This depends on applicants completing their paperwork in a timely manner. There could be delays caused by the DBS or if we need to refer you for any further health checks before you start.

We are running weekly Volunteer Inductions so we would aim to have you started in 2-4 weeks.

Do I get expenses paid?

Volunteers are entitled to free car parking or can have their bus fare reimbursed for the days they are on duty only.

I need a placement for a course I am doing, can you provide this?

Volunteering is not a work placement or work experience and you are not assessed; this is volunteering your time to benefit patients and staff.  For work placements or work experience please contact our Work Experience Department on workexperience@uhcw.nhs.uk

Any questions?

If you have any questions please email us at volunteers@uhcw.nhs.uk or call 024 7696 5146 / 024 7696 5147